Elias Higbee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Elias Higbee | |
|---|---|
| Church Recorder Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints | |
| October 1840 – December 1842 | |
| Called by | Joseph Smith |
| Predecessor | George W. Robinson |
| Successor | Willard Richards |
| Church Historian Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints | |
| April 6, 1838 – October 1840 | |
| Called by | Joseph Smith |
| Predecessor | John Corrill |
| Successor | Robert B. Thompson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 23, 1795 Galloway Township, New Jersey, United States |
| Died | June 8, 1843 (aged 47) Nauvoo, Illinois, United States |
| Cause of death | cholera |
| Resting place | Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds 40°32′11″N 91°21′02″W / 40.5364°N 91.3506°W |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Elizabeth Ward |
| Children | 12 |
| Parents | Isaac Higbee Sophia Somers |
Elias Higbee (October 23, 1795 – June 8, 1843) was an associate of Joseph Smith, a prominent Danite,[1] and an official historian and recorder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Born in Galloway Township, New Jersey, to Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers, Higbee joined the Latter Day Saint church in 1832 in Ohio.[1] He and his family joined the gathering of Latter Day Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, later that year. In 1833 the Higbees and other Latter Day Saints attempted to settle in Jackson County, Missouri, but were forced to return to Kirtland in 1835. They again tried to settle in Missouri in 1836, this time in Clay County.[citation needed] While in Missouri, Higbee was a Caldwell County judge[2] and a leading officer of the county militia.[citation needed] He also served missions in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.[2] Eventually, the events of the 1838 Mormon War again forced the Higbees to leave Missouri and by 1839 they had settled with the majority of Latter-Day Saints in Commerce, Illinois, which would later be renamed Nauvoo.[citation needed]
In 1838, Higbee became the official historian of the church, and in 1840 he became the church's recorder. In 1839 and 1840, Higbee traveled with Joseph Smith to Washington, D.C., to submit a petition for redress to U.S. President Martin Van Buren.[3] On October 8, 1840, Higbee was appointed by Smith to the committee charged with organizing the construction of the Nauvoo Temple.[4]
Higbee unexpectedly died of cholera[4] on June 8, 1843, in Nauvoo.[2] After his death, Smith stated that Higbee "will again come forth and strike hands with the faithful, and share the glory of the kingdom of God for ever and ever."[4] He was married to Sarah Ward[2] and was the father of twelve children.[citation needed]
